Broome and fire fighting foam

Airservices role at Broome International Airport Airservices is a government-owned organisation providing air navigation and aviation rescue fire fighting services (ARFFS) at Broome International Airport. Airservices commenced ARFFS operationat the site in 2008. Fire training for Broome International Airport is conducted at Airport.

Use of fire fighting foam at Broome International Airport Airservices does not use fire fighting foam containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Broome International Airport. Airservices ARFFS carried Ansulite fire fighting for two years at the airport from commencement of operation in 2008 until 2010 when Ansulite was phased out. During that time, Ansulite was never used for any operational response or training at Broome International Airport. Ansulite fire fighting foam met operational performance criteria and was approved for use by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. At the time Ansulite was understood not to contain PFOS or PFOA but was later found to contain trace amounts of both these chemicals. In 2010, Airservices transitioned to a PFAS-free foam, Solberg RF6, at Broome International Airport.

What action has Airservices taken at Broome International Airport? Airservices recently completed a desktop Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) for PFAS impacts at Broome International Airport to better understand potential impacts which may be directly related to Airservices historic aviation fire fighting operations. The PSI determined that PFAS containing foams had not been used for any operational response or in training at Broome International Airport by Airservices ARFFS since it commenced providing services in 2008. Airservices has shared the results with Broome International Airport and the state regulator WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Next steps Given the findings of the PSI, Airservices will not be conducting any further investigations at Broome International Airport.

More information Airservices – Airport specific information: https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/community/environment/pfas/ Commonwealth Department of Health – Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-pfas.htm